Evening star. [volume], November 24, 1925, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
WEATHER.
Ctt. S. Weather Bureau Forecast.l
Fair tonight, minimum temperature.
25 degrees; tomorrow fair, slowly ris
ing temperature.
Temperatures—Highest, 38, at 3
p.m. yesterday; lowest, 26, at 5 a.m.
today. Full report on page 7.
Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 28
N" »)Q 700 Entered as second class matter
O. -o, < iJ-j. post office. Washington, D. O.
COOLIDGE TO TAKE
FIRM STAND IN HIS
ANSWER TO LEWIS
Unmoved by Threats of Sym
pathetic Strike in Bitu
mious Coal Fields.
GREEN AND MORRISON
CONFER WITH PRESIDENT
‘‘Hands-Off” Policy Believed Cer
tain—Executive Studying Situa
tion Before Giving Views.
BY ,1. RUSSELL YOUNT,.
President Coolidge let it be known
today that he is going to answer the
letter from John L. Lewis, president
of the United Mine AVorkers of Amer
tea. in V hirh the latter asked the
Executive whether the union men
would he justified in adopting their
own course to enforce the Jackson
ville wage agreement for the bitu
minous coal fields.
In making’ this fact known at the
White House the spokesman for the
President stated that Mr. Lewis al
ready had been advised that the Pres
ident will prepare an answer, but in
the meantime he wants to consider
carefully the questions involved be
fore making any reply.
The President's course in this mat- ,
ter is understood to have been de
cided upon following several con
ferences he has had with Secretary
of Commerce Hoover and other mem
bers of his cabinet since receiving
the Lewis letter.
Confers With Labor Heads.
William Green. president of the
American Federation of Labor and
former treasurer of the Miners’
T'nion. and Frank Morrison, secretary
of the federation, were closeted with
the President for more than an hour
late yesterday afternoon, and al
though they said afterward that the
President discussed with them the
labor section of the message he is to
send to Congress next month, it is
thought in more than one quarter
that the coal situation, as well as the
Lewis letter, was touched upon.
More than one of the President's j
intimates today represented him as i
resenting very much that part of the |
letter from Mr. Lewis, which is taken ;
generally as a threat that unless the
Federal Government intervenes Mr.
•Lewis would bring about a strike
nmong the bituminous miners. One
who is very close to the Executive
said that from his long experience
with the latter he has come to the
conclusion that threats accomplish
very little where Mr. Coolldge is con
cerned.
He never makes them himself, end j
when they are hurled at him they al
ways fail to scare or confuse him, and j
they never bring results, this friend
said.
Expected to Be Firm.
In announcing that the President j
would answer the Lewis letter, the •
White House spokesman gave no inti
mation of the probable nature of the
• reply, hut it is felt by more than one
person close to the President that he
will make his language unmistakably ]
plain to the miners’ head, and that in
doing so he will remove from the lat
ter all ideas that the President can be
forced by threats.
The President is expected to state
just what the Government has done
since the negotiations to reach an
agreement between the operators and
miners were opened at Atlantic City
last Summer. The President also is
expected to reiterate his declaration
that he is empty handed, so far as
forcing an issue with either or both
of the disputants is concerned. He will
remind Mr. Lewis that the Federal
Government is not responsible for the
Jacksonville wage agreement, and that I
if the bituminous miners have any ]
complaint to make against violations
of this agreement on the part of the
soft coal operators, they should seek
redress from the courts and not from
• ihe executive of the Government.
Just how soon President Coolidge
will pen his reply is a difficult matter
io guess. It generally hits been Mr.
> 'oolidge's policy to not hurry in
handling such matters and he will
give considerable study to the contents
of the letter Mr. Lewis sent him be
fore he starts to frame a reply.
“Hands-Off” Policy.
Although no hint is given at the
White House as to what might be ex
pected in the President’s answer,
those close to the President feel very
sure he will continue along his fixed
’hands-off” policy. The President’s
principal interest is in behalf of the
public, and he is being kept well ad
vised of conditions in those sections
where anthracite was almost exclu
sively used and where the first pinch
will he felt because of scarcity of this
fuel. The President Is hoping that the
• public will pull through the winter
with the minimum amount of discom
fiture, feeling that if this is accom
plished the public then will have the
satisfaction of knowing that it has de
feated both the anthracite operators
and miners, probably for all time. The
President has given his inoral support
to efforts being made to educate the
public in the use of substitute fuel and
he feels very hopeful that a wider use
<>f fuel substitutes will make it pos
sible to meet the situation generally.
LEWIS AND MARKER CONFER.
Refuse to Confirm Rumors of Further
Negotiations.
PHILADELPHIA. November 24.
»/P)—A conference between John L.
Lewis, president of the United Mine
Workers, and J. Alvin Markle, chair
man of the joint committee of the
anthracite operators’ negotiating com
mittee and the general wage scale
< ommittee of the miners, gave rise to
day to further rumors of approaching
peace negotiations in the hard-coal in
dustry. All, however, lacked confirma
tion.
Bot Mr. Lewis and Mr. Markle
denied that there was any significance
jn tbeir meeting, which was held be
hind closed doors at the Union League
last night, and lasted three hours.
.Neither would discuss what took
place.
Earlier In the day the policy com
mittee of the anthracite operators met
in the office of Samuel D. YVarriner,
Oiairman of the anthracite operators'
< .remittee This meeting also was be
(Continued on Page 2. Column 7.)
I ANOTHER WARSHIP IS ORDERED
j . TO DASH TO TROUBLOUS ARIUA
j Charges American Mediators Are Fomenting ‘"’Dis
cord and Hatred” Made by Chilean Ex-President
Alessandri—End of Plebiscitary Is Looming.
By the Associated Press.
BALBOA, C. Z., November 24. —The
U. S. S. Denver has received wireless
orders from Rear Admiral Julian Lati
mer to stand by in readiness to pro
ceed to Arica, Chile. The Denver
coaled yesterday and it is unofficially
stated that she will sail today.
Admiral Ijatimer has been in Arica
since August, when he transported
the American members of the Tacna-
Arica plebiscitary commission to their
destination aboard his flagship, the
IT. S. S. Rochester.
The cruiser Rochester, on which
Gen. Pershing went to South Amer
ica for the Tacna-Arica negotiations,
has been ordered relieved for a trip
to the United States, but so far as
known here the movement does not
involve any change in the personnel
of the American Tacna-Arica commis
sion.
The official explanation given for
the return of the Rochester is that
she is in need of repairs. It was de
dared today that the decision to send
the cruiser Denver from the Canal
Zone to Arica to relieve the Rochester
was reached some time ago. although
it was kept secret.
When word of the dispatch of the
relief ship from the Canal Zone
reached Washington in news dis
patches, State and Navy Department
officials at first refused to discuss the
movement in any way or to disclose
that they had any information on the
subject.
Several hours later, however, they
DOUMER TO HEAD
FRENCH MINISTRY
Senator, Finance Expert,
Accepts Call After Briand
Declines to Act.
By the Associated Press.
PARIS. November 24.—Senator Paul
Doumer today accepted “in principle"
President Doumergue’s request that
he form a cabinet, saying he would
reply definitely within 24 hours.
M. Doumer during the war made
one of the most impressive contribu
tions to his country, three of his five
sons being killed at the front. After
the war he wrote a very poignant
volume, called "The Book of My Sons.”
He also is the author of a work on
Indo-China. His wife was Mile.
Blanche Richel. They had eight chil
dren.
Is Finance Expert.
One reason making his choice de
sirable at this period is that he has
been chairman of the finance com
mittee of the Senate.
M. Doumer, who is not affiliated
with the coalition of the Left, is
known as a man of few antagonisms,
as slow to act, safe and courageous.
His friends express the opinion that
he will have more success in his at
tempt to form a cabinet than did
M. Briand, as he will avoid attempt
ing to take in too large a field in
the concentration of parliamentary
strength he will seek to gather.
The attitude of the Left cartel,
however, remains undefined, and
upon it largely depends his success
in forming a ministry.
Senator Doumer said that if he
finally accepted he would take the
finance portfolio in addition to the
premiership, while M. Briand would
remain as foreign minister.
Foreign Minister Briand this after
noon definitely declined the Presi
dent’s request to form a new cabinet.
M. Briand recommended that Presi
dent Doumergue call upon Senator
Paul Doumer to form a cabinet. Just
before going to the Elysee Palace to
report to the President, M. Briand
said:
"Mv intention was to form a cab.
inet of the Left, including MM. Her
riot, Painleve. Paul-Boncour and Blum,
but I have not succeeded, and prefer
to abandon the task.”
Socialists Decline Support.
The Socialists had Just refused to
participate in a government headed by
Briand.
This decision was reached by the
Socialist executive committee after
it had heard M. Blum and M. Paul-
Boncour. its leaders, outline M.
Briand’s offer of three posts in the
new cabinet for members of the party,
of which occupants would be M.
Blum. M. Paul-Boncour and Jean
Locquin.
The two Socialist leaders then car
ried the party's decision back to M.
Briand.
When M. Briand left the Elysee
Palace after a quarter-hour’s conver
sation with M. Doumergue, the Pres
ident said:
“I have been unable to find a basis
upon which to form a cabinet of
wide concentration, ranging from the
Center with the co-operation of the
Socialists —that is to say, a ministry
capable of solving the financial prob
lem.”
He added that he would rest the
disposition with whoever was charged
to form the cabinet.
Senator Doumer has been a promi
nent figure in French politics for
more than 30 years. It was in 1895
that he was called to his first cabinet
post, that of minister of finance.
Tons of Loose Stone on Parliament
Building Endanger M. P.’s on Terraces
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, November 24. —The tow
ers cupolas and gargoyles which
adorn the House of Parliament have
degenerated into almost shapeless
pieces of masonry. But a more seri
ous aspect of the situation is a re
ported disintegration of the building
itself.
Sir Frank Baines, a noted architect
in charge of public buildings, has in
formed a committee of the House of
Commons that members of Parliament
were in danger as they walked on
terraces of being struck by falling
©he Utietima
J X WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION V-/
explained that the change was one
that had been planned heretofore, and
gave assurances that it had no con
neotion with the present serious stage
of the negotiations at Arica.
The arrival of the Denver at Arica
will make available at that port, for
a short while at least, two American
naval vessels.
It was learned today that Gen. Per
shing lias been anxious to come home
for a brief visit, officials giving as the
reason a desire to he in the United
States during the Christmas holidays.
Latest available information here,
however, is that he probably will not
do so.
Officials here say there is no ques
tion that they have been much con
cerned over the open break which has
developed with the withdrawal of
Chile from the Arica negotiations.
News dispatches today disclosing
that there has been further bloodshed
In Arica and that official spokesmen
for Chile are openly attacking Gen.
Pershing and his colleagues in public
speeches were rereived without com
ment. Neither did ihe State Depart
mem disclose what rerent advires it
had received as to the state of popular
feeling in northern Chile.
At the White House President Cool
idge was described as still confident
that the differences of opinion arising
at Artca would be composed. Mr.
Coolidge feels that previous problems
having been met successfully, the
present one also must yield to nego
tiation.
An Arica dispatch yesterday said
(Continued on Page 2, Column 4.)
EXEMPTIONS ENDED
FOR MAKiNG WINE
Andrews Decided They Have
Become Supply Source for
Bootleggers.
The Government today put an end
to thousands of “exemptions” for
the manufacture of wine in the
amount of 200 gallons in the home
for consumption, tax free.
These exemptions, existing since
before prohibition, were issued by
collectors of the internal revenue
and were believed by Assistant Sec
retary of the Treasury Andrews to
have “appeared to give governmental
sanction to the manufacture of this
wine.”
Regulations were issued to collec
tors of internal revenue to pro
hibition administrators and to others
concerned, authorizing a discontin
uance of all these “exemptions,”
but the regulations stipulated that
they do not "impair, or place any
limitations upon, the rights con
ferred by section 29 of the national
prohibition act and to non-intoxi
cating ciders and fruit juices for
use in the home."
Supply for Bootleggers.
Lincoln C. Andrews, Assistant Sec
retary of the Treasury and field mar
shal of prohibition, in a statement ex
plaining the new order, said:
“These changes in the regulations
affecting the issuance of collector's
exemptions for the manufacture of
200 gallons of wines in the home for
home use have been made because
the department feels that much of
this wine has reached the hands of
the bootleg industry. Our infor
mation from California indicates that
45,000 of these exemptions were issued
in that State alone within the past
year and that this is a real source of
supply for the bootleggers.
“Authority for this collector's ex
emption operated before the passage
of the Volstead act for the purpose of
allowing the home manufacturer of
wine for home consumption tax free.
Its continuance after the passage of
the Volstead act has appeared to give
governmental sanction to the manu
facture of this wine and to that ex
tent had been disadvantageous to the
enforcement of the prohibition law.
While this practice has prevailed
(Continued on Page 2, Column 5.)
CHILD, USED AS SHIELD
BY FATHER, STOPS SHOT
Girl. Aged 11, Is Seriously Wound
ed as Parent, Alleged Highway
man, Battles Police.
By the Associated Press.
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.. November
24. —Struck by a bullet fired last
night at her father by State Police
man John L. Morgan, Catherine
Ball, 11 years old, daughter of Cleve
land Ball, a farmer, is in a serious
condition at the Muncy Valley Hos
pital. ,
In a statement issued by Corpl.
Cook of the Muncy detail, the father
of the little girl is charged with hav
ing used her as a shield as the of
ficer fired.
Ball, who was sought on a war
rant charging him with highway
robbery and larceny of a shotgun,
used the stolen gun to prevent his
arrest, the police report states.
The battle in which the child was
wounded took place at the Ball
farm. The child made no outcry
and her injury was not discovered
until ‘he State police searched the
premises for Ball, who escaped Into
the mountains after the shooting.
stone. There was no fear of the
building collapsing, however; it was
too well built for that. But owing to
the combined effects of London’s
smoky atmosphere and the crystaliza
tion of the stone work the building
was in a state of extreme mutilation.
Hundreds of tons of loese material
had been removed and there were still
innumerable masses at great heights
which could easily be removed by
hand.
Sir Frank estimated that it would
cost £12,000,000 to erect the building
today. He said that repairs would
cost about £1,000,000.
WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1925-FIFTY PAGES. *
SHOPKEEPER SHOE
TWICE IN ROUTING
BANDIT IN STORE
Delicatessen Proprietor Bat
tles Hold-Up Man —Wounds
Are Not Serious.
GROCERY STORE ROBBED
OF $2,000 THIS MORNING
Three Employes Backed Into Rear
Room by Armed Pair, Who
Get Collector’s Grip.
Jack Herns, proprietor of n rlelicn
tessen store ;tt 2016 P street, was shot
twice at his place of business early
afternoon when he resisted an
attempted hold-up, attacking the ban
dit with a bottle.
His assailant escaped. Herns'wounds
are not considered serious.
The shooting followed another dar
ing hold-tip here earlier today, when
two bandits got f 2,000 after holding
up three employes of the Hanitnry
Grocery Co. at the store, 1824 Eight
eenth street.
Faced by Revolver.
Heros was in his place of business
about 2 o'clock when the bandit en
tered. and. drawing a revolver, com
manded, “Hands up!"
Heros grabbed a bottle and leaped
at the bandit, and as they clinched
the latter fired twice.
One bullet penetrated Heros’ chest
and lodged near the heart, while the
other, strking a rib. was deflected.
Heros fell away from his opponent
and the latter rnn from the store. Dr.
P. D. Papalia and Dr. L. W. Glaze
brook were summoned and treated
Heros. and expressed the opinion his
wounds were not serious.
Hold Up Sanitary Store.
Huddling three Sanitary Grocery
employes in a hack room of the store
at 1824 Eighteenth street, shortly
after the store opened at 9:30 o’clock
this morning, two men with drawn re
volvers boldly picked up a satchel
containing $2,000. rifled the cash reg
ister of 515, and then quietly left after
they had locked the men in with one
of their own padlocks.
Police are convinced the two men
had been following Raymond Whit
mer, supervisor, who was making his
daily collection rounds at the various
Sanitary stores.
Just as William F. Gore, manager
of the Eighteenth street store, was in
the act of signing for his receipts
and turning them over to Mr. Whit
mer. the first of the two hold-up men
entered. William Nenage, a clerk,
was the only other person in the store
at the time.
Flourishes Revolver.
"Hand over that satchel,” he com
manded, whirling a .45-caliber re
volver threateningly.
Acting on this cue. the second man
entered. He also had a 45-caliber re
volver and backed the three men into
a small hack room.
“If any one of you stick your head
out of that room frtr five minutes.”
the second man bullied, according to
the story r given police, "it will be a
case for the morgue.”
The two hold-up men then rifled
the cash register of the sls, picked
up the satchel and went out, locking
the door with a small padlock they
had brought with them.
Completely cowed, the three men
say they stayed in the back room as
commanded for five minutes. When
they came out they found the pad
lock on the door and they were
forced to break a plate glass window
to get out. They engaged a taxicab,
which was standing nearby, and
went down to police headquarters to
renort the hold-up.
No Trace of Pair.
Search failed to disclose any one
who had seen the two hold-up men
or the means of transportation they
used to make their getaway. It was
apparent they had not only trailed
Supervisor Whitmer and waited for
his collections to swell, but they had
timed their hold-up for a store in a
quiet neighborhood when no cus
tomers were present.
The trio of employes who were
held up told police that the men ap
peared to be about 35 years old. The
first one who entered, they said, was
roughly dressed, hut the second gave
.he appearance of being a refined
man and was well dressed. Police
have been given detailed descriptions
of the men. and a general lookout to
all police precinct stations has been
broadcast.
News of the daring hold-up came
to police headquarters this morn
ing just as detectives were congrat
ulating themselves that managers of
chain stores in Washington were
permitted to have a complete day’s
rest yesterday from the operations
of armed bandits or burglars.
Whisky Stolen.
Theft of prescription whisky from
O’Donnell’s drug store, Pennsyl
vania avenue and Third street south
east, was reported to the police early
today. Had not occupants of an
upper floor heard the liquor burglars
and called the police, it is stated
that the drug store's entire stock
probably would have been taken. A
check-up on the quantity taken is
being made today.
Using a duplicate key, burglars
visited the store of Max Levine, 1818
Seventh street, yesterday and took a
quantity of clothing and a silver flask.
Another burglar was in the janitor's
quarters of 1922 Sixteenth street yes
terday afternoon. He stole articles
of wearing apparel and S2O in cash.
Edward W. Dickie's home at 1328
Randolph street was the scene of a
burglary yesterday during the ab
sence of the family. Entrance was
gained through a rear window, police
reported, and a radio set, safety razor,
sweater and $5 in cash were stolen.
A dressed pig weighing 65 pounds,
a tub of lard, 6 chickens, 15 dozen
eggs, 2 hams, 4 cartons of cigar
ettes and a quantity of canned goods
were stolen from the store of Howard
H. Harrison, 247 Fifteenth street
southeast, last night. Burglars gained
entrance to the store through a rear
window. Harrison placed the value of
the loot at SIOO.
fsƒsfew
BAND OF ROBBERS
TERRORIZES TOWN
Cassopolis, Mich., Citizens
Driven to Cover bv Barrage
While Safe Is Blown.
!
j By the Associated Press,
j CASSOPOI.TR Mich.. November
! 24.—Armed bandits terrorized Cassop
j olis for nearly three hours early to
j day. firing at every resident who
I dared to appear on the street, and
! finally roared out of town to the stac
jeato accompaniment of their own re
j volvers after failing to rob the First
! National Bank.
j Their number was variously esti
: mated by excited Cassopolis residents
Jat from five to ten. From the con
t fusion of scores of accounts by per
{ sons whose temerity led them to see
j what all the shooting was for, and
| whose better judgment almost as
I quickly sent them out of sight and
! gun range, this is what happened’* - *
j The bandits entered Cassapolis
! shortly after 2 a.m. today. They
I bound the night watchman and three
' other men who were in two ail night
j restaurants, cut telephone and tele
i graph wires leading out of the city
and for two and fine-half hours owned
j the town. At 4:45 a.m. after an in
j effectual attempt to break the vault of
i the First National Bank, the bandits
i left in an automobile, heading toward
I Niles.
Citizens Driven to Homes.
During the time they held undis
, puted possession of this Pass County
seat town the bandits tired between
100 and 150 shots (again the accounts
of eyewitnesses are at varianice), and
; only one shot was fired in return.
Revolvers and sawed-off shotguns
were used, and the targets were any
'■ who appeared on the streets or who
! showed lights in office buildings or
‘ residences near the business section.
George Jones, a stock buyer, was
| the only casualty. As he emerged
' from his house lie was greeted with
a volley. A shotgun slug inflicted a
j neck wound, and he retreated into the
i house.
The gunmen worked methodically.
\ Immediately upon arrival two of them
i took guard positions outside Patrick
i Wallace's all-night restaurant. The
I others entered the place and forced
Wallace. Clyde Benham. night watch
i man. and Hersley Cooper to line up
I against the wall. Each prisoner's
: hands were bound behind his back
j Leaving a guard over the men, the
! other bandits went to another restau
rant and treated its proprietor. John
i Barney, similarly.
, Then the wires were cut. Only one
! stand was overlooked —the wire con
! necting Cassopolis with Niles—and it
! was over this wire that a telephone
! operator soon afterward sounded the
I alarms.
Safe Door Dynamited.
The front door of the First National
Bank then was forced, the robbers
taking their four prisoners inside with
them. The outer door of the safe was
dynamited, no effort being made to
deaden the sound of the explosion, and
I the noise brought several persons to
| the street and to windows.
Then the guns of the bandits on
1 guard spoke. There apparently was
lno effort to kill. The revolver and
I shotgun barrage was a sinister
| warning.
I Five charges of dynamite were ex
| ploded. the outer door of the vault
! being torn away, but the inner door
! withstanding the bandits’ efforts,
i A Mrs. August, night telephone op
i erator, notified officers at Niles while
j the bandits still were at the bank and
i roads leading out of Cassopolis were
| immediately placed under guard.
Dr. James Kalsey offered the only
j resistance the gunmen met. Called by
the telephone operator, who told him
there was trouble at the bank. Dr.
Kalsey drove downtown. One of the
bandit guards began shooting under
his car. Dr. Kalsey fired a shot at
the man and then drove away amid a
storm of shotgun slugs from the
bandit’s gun.
Shooting came from so many quar
ters during the raid that many per
sons believed 10 men must have par
ticipated in the invasion. Only five
men were seen, however. Two wore
masks and appeared youthfsl. Each
of the others was described as 50 or
more years old.
Main street today looked like a
thoroughfare that had stood the siege
of an invading army. Windows were
shattered and exploded revolver and
shotgun shells were lying in the
streets. The walls of buildings were
marked with bullets.
Bandits Shoot Policeman.
CHICAGO, November 24 UP). —Five
or six robbers held up a bank messen
ger and his guards, shot a policeman
in a pistol fight and escaped with
approximately $50,000 being taken
from one bank to another.
Radio Programs—Page 38.
§50,000 iii Budget
For Monument to
Unknown Soldier
The next budget to Congress
will contain an estimate of $50,000
submitted by the War Department,
for the erection of a suitable monu
ment over the tomb of the Un
known Soldier, in the Arlington
national Cemetery.
Many designs for such a monu
ment have been submitted to the
department from artists and others
in various parts of the United
States, but no action in the matter
will he taken until Congress pro
vides the necessary funds.
NEW RECORD MADE
IN BUILDING IN 1925
Total of $63,500,000 Ex
pected to Surpass All Marks
Set Previously.
Conservative estimates of the statis
tics of the office of the building in
spector show that at the close of this
year Washington will have established
another building record. Allowing for
the Christmas lull. Col. John W.
Oehman, building inspector, predicts
a total valuation of new building for
the year at $63,500,000. This is the
lowest figure possible, taking in ac
count the projects yet to he filed at
the District Building.
With this total construction in the
National Capital from January 1, to
December 31, 1925, will have sur
passed any record established in pre
vious fiscal or calendar years. The
fiscal year ending last June established
a record of $62,400,000 and the calen
dar year ending 1924 amounted to
$46,500,000. With more than a month
to go and a present total of about
$59,000,000, this year is already $12.-
500,00 ahead of the last calendar year.
It also exceeds the heretofore biggest
calendar year, 1923. by about $9,500,000.
An analysis of the building permits
and those reasonably expected dur
ing the next five weeks will show that
housing accommodations for approxi
mately 36,000 persons have been erect
ed during the present year Approxi
mately 8,000 new housing units have
been added to Washington. Up to
November 1, 4,160 new houses have
been built. This should reach 5.000 by
the end of December. Up to Novem
ber 1, apartment houses containing
2.950 apartment units have been built.
By the end of the year it will reach
3,000. Taking the average of four per
sons to a unit this will give the total
of 36,000 persons provided for.
By far the largest proportion of the
money spent in building here haß been
for residential construction. At pres
ent the total for this purpose amounts
to $42,235,965. About $28,000,000 of
this amount is for houses and about
$14,000,000 for apartments. This to
tal is expected to reach near $50,000,-
000 during the next six weeks. Many
other types of building have also been
erected —churches, stores, theaters,
schools, institutions, libraries, etc.
There is every evidence that the fis
cal year beginning last July will even
surpass the record to be established
by this calendar year.
- •
Liner Cleveland Floated.
HAMBURG, Germany, November
24 UP). —The United States American
Liner Cleveland, which went ashore
in a fog near the mouth of the River
Elbe yesterday, was floated today
with the assistance of a number of
tugs and is proceeding to this port.
Chaliapin Has “Sold Soul to Mammon,”
Russia Charges as He Refuses to Return
By the Associated Press.
MOSCOW, November 24.—Moscow
theatrical circles express some resent
ment over the long absence from Rus
sia of Feodor Chaliapin, famous Rus
sian operatic basso. Many attempts
were made by the theatrical authori
ties, hut without effect, to persuade
him to return to Moscow this season.
Although not stating definitely that he
had forsaken Russia for good, Chalia
pin declined to fix a date for his re
turn.
This attitude has aroused bitter
comment in the Soviet press, which
accused the singer of having “sold his
soul to Mammon.” A member of the
Moscow Theatrical Guild, who inter
viewed Chaliapin in Paris before his
(A 3 ) Means Associated Press.
TAX BILL OFFERS
$336,236,000 CUT
Committee Approves Meas
ure Giving Relief to Over
a Million Persons.
By the Associated Press.
The tax reduction bill as completed
and unanimously approved by the
ways and means committee will go
j to the House providing for an esti
mated cut of $336,236,000 annually in
the Federal tax burden.
The measure, which will be pre
sented to the House on the opening
day of Congress December 7, provides
relief for every Federal taxpayer and
through increased personal exemp
tions would relieve more than a mil
lion persons from payment of any
Federal tax.
The principal portion of reduction
is given to income taxpayers, whose
annual burden would be cut by $193,-
575,000, beginning with taxes to be
paid in the next calendar year. Cuts
in the normal rates and surtaxes ac
count for most of this.
Karly Action Expected.
Chairman Green of the committee
is confident that the measure will be
disposed of in the House before the
Christmas recess. Chairman Smoot
of the Senate finance committee pre
dicts early action when it reaches
that body and leaders hope to have
the measure enacted into law by
March 1, 15 days before the first in
come tax payments of the new year
are due.
While the bill was framed by the
committee on a non-partisan basis and
was given unanimous approval, mem
bers reserved the right to press for
changes- when it is considered on the
floor of the House. Fights are ex
pected to be made there against the
proposed cuts in the inheritance tax
rates, including the provision for a
retroactive reduction in this levy, and
for repeal of the automobile passen
ger car tax, which the committee cut
from 5 to 3 per cent.
Year’s Surplus $330,000,000.
While the revisions voted bv the
committee are estimated by the Treas
ury to carry the total reduction $36,-
236,000 over the figure originally set
by the committee, it approved this
total after receiving later reports
from the Treasury that the surplus
this fiscal year would reach $330,000,-
000 instead of $290,000,000.
The committee voted yesterday to
make the revised excise taxes, many
of which were repealed, effective
upon enactment of the bill into law,
and to make the revised occupational
levies effective July 1, 1926.
Chairman Green will call the com
mittee together December 2 to ratify
the work of drafting clerks and a sub
committee charged with clearing up
some details of the general provisions.
SENATE ORATORY FEARED.
%
Debate on World Court May Delay
Action on Tax Reduction.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Now that the House ways and
means committee has finished draft
ing a new tax bill and passage by the
House next month is conceded, the
question of how soon action by the
Senate may be expected is reallv the
biggest piece of uncertainty facing
the taxpayer..
There remains no doubt that the bill
will be cleared through both Houses
before March 1, but in order to save
time and money the measure ought to
be passed by February 1 so as to allow
the Treasury to print and distribute
new tax forms. Actions by the Senate
on the tax bill, however, is curiously
enough tied up with something entire
ly unrelated to revenues, namely, the
(Continued on Page 2, Column^h)
departure for the Metropolitan season
In New York, quotes him as saying:
“I have concert engagements in Amer
ica and Australia for several years,
and am obliged to carry them out. I
left Russia without a cent, and found
it necessary therefore to sell my soul
to the devil. Yes, I sold It, and It is
not my fault. As soon as I fulfill
these contracts I hope to be able to
accept your invitation to come to
Moscow and Leningrad.”
Chaliapin left Russia toward the
end of 1922, and was given a Soviet
passport for one year, on the under
standing that a percentage of his fees
would go to the Soviet famine fund.
He has since obtained an extension of
his passport.
The only evening paper
in Washington with the
Associated Press news
service.
Yesterday’s Circulation, 100,877
COURT BARS MOVE
TOSHOWMITCHELL
PLAGIARIZED BOOK
Colonel Saved From Appar
ently Embarrassing Posi
tion in Cross-Quiz.
WITNESS STANDS FIRM
IN FACE OF GRILLING
Courtroom Given Great Thrill by
Surprise Move Against Of
ficer’s Writing.
Presenting: a stubborn defense
against the withering fire of cross-ex
amination by the prosecution. Col
Mitchell, on the stand in the court
martial proceedings against him for
the second consecutive day, was rep
cued from what appeared to be an em
harrassing position when the court
overruled an unusually intensive effort
to prove that certain pages in the a< -
cused's book, "Winged Defense,” env
bodied verbatim statements of which
he was not the original author.
Col. Mitchell, adopting the almost
hostile attitude he maintained yestei
day, snapped hack answers to ques
tions put by Maj. Alien J. Gullion.
assistant trial judge advocate, for
nearly two hours defending every
word he had written in the San An
tonio statements and scoring a victory
over ail attempts to break down
previous assertions. The move of the
prosecution regarding the book was a
distinct surprise and caused tense e.v
citement in the courtroom.
Gullion Pushes Fight.
Maj. Gullion pressed his case with
out fear or favor and virtually shout
ed to the court, "I am going to show
the accused cribbed page after page
of this book he admits he wrote!"
The prosecution began its attack
on the book in a quiet manner which
gave no indications as to what would
follow. The witness was asked if he
wrote the book and on receiving ad
mission Maj. Gullion then asked him
to confirm his San Antonio state
ment that “whenever I make a state
ment it always is authentic.”
Arising and taking up the book.
Maj. Gullion addressed the court that
he would read from page 102 of
"Winged Defense" by William Mitcb
ell. He read: “They (referring to
the Germans) started the war with a
total of 40 submarines. This was a
good start considering the design and
construction.’' He then turned to the
i witness and asked if he wrote that
and Col. Mitchell replied, "Yea.”
Identifies Alleged Source.
Returning to his desk, Maj. Gullion
picked up a pamphlet and read the
exact quotation that appeared in the
Mitchell book. His enthusiasm, which
had been gaining steadily, reached
the climax when he declared on con
cluding the reading that the second
quotation came front "a lecture given
at the Mar College by Capt. Hart
U. S. N."
Courtroom Gets Thrill.
The courtroom gasped and every
one was shocked at the sudden turn
of events. Without exception, it was
the outstanding thrill of the trial.
Representative Frank R. Reid of Il
linois, chief civilian defense counsel,
lost no time to come to the rescue
of the point. He declared the latest
move by Maj. Gullion shows "how
much he knows of this case" and
charged him with "wanting to try a
copyright suit' in this court.” A
heated argument ensued. Maj. Gul
lion's voice standing out over that of
his opponent and declaring that his
object was to prove that Col. Mitchell
did not write the book for which lie
has received money.
There is no telling how far the
battle would have gone had not Col.
Blanton Winship, the law member of
the court, interfered and sustained
the objection of Mr. Reid. In doing
so he rebuked the prosecution for
bringing this angle into the case.
"If this court has got to go into
libel matters we never will get
through. Suppose he did take every
word in the book from some one
else. What has that got to do with
the case?"
The law member's ruling and the
court’s indorsement, which prohibited
the pamphlet from being introduced
as evidence, and the book "Winged
Defense" also brought calm to the
troubled waters and shortly afterward
the court recessed for luncheon.
Quizzed on FJquipment.
Prior to the bombardment of the
prosecution on the Mitchell book the
witness was deluged with questions
regarding his charges that airmen
know they will be killed sooner or
later if they must continue flying in
the "flaming coffins," and that airmen
are "bluffed and bulldozed and afraid
to tell the truth.”
Despite the fact that reports of In
quiries into fatal accidents were read
to the accused, and which reports
made no reference to faulty equip
ment or structural failure. Col.
Mitchell stoutly maintained that had
the dead aviators been in possession
of modern planes and with modern
instruments they perhaps would be
alive today.
1 "It constitutes criminal negligence
to keep us flying ships of that kind,"
declared the witness, referring to the
DH observation planes and the JN
training planes.
"They should have been done away
with right after the war.”
The accused air officer also defended
his statements regarding intimidation
of airmen, but declared lie -was one of
the minority "not afraid to tell the
truth” although "attempts have been
made to bulldoze me."
Mitchell Resumes Stand.
Col. Mitchell took the stand im
mediately after court convened and
was reminded by Col. Sherman More
land, the trial judge advocate, that
he still was under oath. Maj. Gullion
then continued the cross-examinatlon
where it was broken off yesterday
afternoon.
"In your statement of September 6
and in your direct examination
you referred to accidents In the Army
Air Service,” began the assistant trial
judge advocate.
"Which ones were they?" replied
the witness.
"You refer to ‘flaming coffins’?"
"I did.”
(Continued on Page 4. Column TT
TWO CENTS